Avoirdupois weight

Avoirdupois weight
Avoirdupois Av`oir*du*pois" ([a^]v`[~e]r*d[-u]*poiz"), n. & a. [OE. aver de peis, goods of weight, where peis is fr. OF. peis weight, F. poids, L. pensum. See {Aver}, n., and {Poise}, n.] 1. Goods sold by weight. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

2. Avoirdupois weight. [1913 Webster]

3. Weight; heaviness; as, a woman of much avoirdupois. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

{Avoirdupois weight}, a system of weights by which coarser commodities are weighed, such as hay, grain, butter, sugar, tea. [1913 Webster]

Note: The standard Avoirdupois pound of the United States is equivalent to the weight of 27.7015 cubic inches of distilled water at 62[deg] Fahrenheit, the barometer being at 30 inches, and the water weighed in the air with brass weights. In this system of weights 16 drams make 1 ounce, 16 ounces 1 pound, 25 pounds 1 quarter, 4 quarters 1 hundred weight, and 20 hundred weight 1 ton. The above pound contains 7,000 grains, or 453.54 grams, so that 1 pound avoirdupois is equivalent to 1 31-144 pounds troy. (See {Troy weight}.) Formerly, a hundred weight was reckoned at 112 pounds, the ton being 2,240 pounds (sometimes called a long ton). [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • avoirdupois weight — n a system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces and an ounce of 437.5 grains (28.350 grams) and in general use in the U.S. except for precious metals, gems, and drugs * * * the system of weight commonly used for ordinary commodities in… …   Medical dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — avoirdupois′ weight n. wam the system of weights, based on the pound of 16 ounces, used in Great Britain and the U.S. for goods other than gems, precious metals, and drugs Abbr.: av. 3) avdp. avoir …   From formal English to slang

  • avoirdupois weight — n. a British and American system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces: see the table of weights and measures in the Reference Supplement …   English World dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — noun a system of weights based on the 16 ounce pound (or 7,000 grains) • Syn: ↑avoirdupois • Hypernyms: ↑system of weights, ↑weight • Part Meronyms: ↑avoirdupois unit * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — the system of weights in British and U.S. use for goods other than gems, precious metals, and drugs: 2711/32 grains = 1 dram; 16 drams = 1 ounce; 16 ounces = 1 pound; 112 pounds (Brit.) or 100 pounds (U.S.) = 1 hundredweight; 20 hundredweight = 1 …   Universalium

  • avoirdupois weight — noun Date: 1619 the series of units of weight based on the pound of 16 ounces and the ounce of 16 drams see weight table …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — A measure characterized by a sixteen ounce pound, as distinguished from troy weight of twelve ounces to the pound …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — system of weights used in Britain and the United States based on the 16 ounce pound (used to measure certain goods) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • avoirdupois weight — /ˌævwadjupwa ˈweɪt/ (say .avwahdyoohpwah wayt) noun a system of weights formerly used in most English speaking countries for goods other than gems, precious metals and drugs. 27.34 grains = 1 dram; 16 drams = 1 ounce; 16 ounces = 1 pound; 112… …  

  • Avoirdupois — Av oir*du*pois ([a^]v [ e]r*d[ u]*poiz ), n. & a. [OE. aver de peis, goods of weight, where peis is fr. OF. peis weight, F. poids, L. pensum. See {Aver}, n., and {Poise}, n.] 1. Goods sold by weight. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Avoirdupois weight.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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